Colorblock Hand Warmers
The sweet spot of knitting, for me, is when it starts to feel a lot like painting. When the form is fluid and mutable and when the palette is supple and free, then I feel that knitting really hits its creative stride. Creating these Colorblock Hand Warmers delivers just that kind of deeply satisfying experience.
The idea behind these simple mitts was to give free rein to the gorgeous colors of Madeline Tosh Merino Light, to allow the spectacularly hand dyed palette to speak its own story and to create its own beauty: from moonlight gray to buttery yellow to bronzed apricot to blazing tangerine.
Follow your own color whimsy or take a page from our book! -Whitney
Update: October 2013
Here’s another idea! Try the Colorblock Hand Warmers in Purl Soho’s very own Line Weight merino. Incredibly soft and downy, Line Weight is our new go-to yarn for fall accessories, not too toasty or bulky, just perfectly cozy!
UPDATE: IN BEAUTIFUL QUARTZ
February 2022
More options for this lovely, simple knit! In stripes or colorblocks, try these hand warmers in our lovely Quartz yarn… a wonderful merino-suri alpaca blend that is light but warm and glows with the mystery and beauty of an unearthed gem. Oh-so-beautiful!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoColorblockHandWarmers. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 4 skeins of Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Merino Light. Each skein is 420 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 420 yards total, or 105 yards per color, required. We used the colors Napoli, Alabaster, Milk and Luster.
NOTE: Just one skein would be enough to make a whole pair of hand warmers. Or use all four and switch the colors around to make four slightly different pairs!
OR
- 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 420 yards total, or 105 yards per color, required. NOTE: This is enough yarn to make at least four pairs of Colorblock Hand Warmers.
We dipped into our palette of favorite Line Weight colors to create three gorgeous color combos
- Left: Yellow Yellow (Color A), Desert Blue (B), Oyster Gray (C), and Heirloom White (D)
- Middle: Dragonfly Blue (Color A), Peacock Blue (B), Timeless Navy (C), and Toasted Charcoal (D)
- Right: Super Pink (Color A), Ballet Pink (B), Storm Gray (C), and Heirloom White (D)
You will also need…
- A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
- A set of US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles
Gauge
8 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Sizes
Small/Medium: 6 1/2 inches in circumference and 12 inches long
Medium/Large: 7 1/2 inches in circumference and 12 inches long. (Instructions for the Medium/Large size are shown in parantheses after the Small/Medium size.)
Pattern
With Color A (Luster) and the US 2 double pointed needles, cast on 52 (60) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Join for working in the round being careful to not twist your stitches.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 five more times.
Change to US 3 double pointed needles.
Knit until the piece measures 4 1/2 inches from the cast on edge.
With Color B (Milk), knit until the piece measures 8 inches from the cast on edge.
With Color C (Alabaster), knit 5 rounds.
The Thumb Hole
NOTE: For the thumb hole, you will work back and forth in rows, turning the work between each row, as you would a flat piece of knitting. Work the stitches on the double pointed needles just as they are, moving from one needle to the next.
*Turn the work so the purl side is facing you and purl all 52 (60) stitches.
Now turn the work so the knit side is facing you and knit the 52 (60) stitches.
Repeat from * until the thumb hole measures 1 1/2 inches, ending with a knit row.
The Hand
NOTE: For the hand section you will work in the round again with the outside of the hand warmer facing you. You will begin with a joining round that connects the two sides of the thumb hole. For the joining round, just continue to work from the last knit row with the outside facing you.
Knit 5 rounds.
With Color D (Napoli), knit for 1 inch.
Change to US #2 double pointed needles.
Next Round: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat the last round 3 more times.
Use a US #3 double pointed needle to bind off in the 1 x 1 rib pattern.
Finishing the Thumb Hole
With Color C and the US #2 double pointed needles, pick up 28 stitches around the thumb hole.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 one more time.
With a US #3 double pointed needle, bind off in the 1 x 1 rib pattern.
Weave in all the ends and then make another!
I am a new knitter. My very first project was the cable knit hat– love it. These hand warmers are my second project. But I am confused by the bind off I’ve searched for a video– not to be found. Could anyone provide me an explanation or even a video link?
Thanks so much!
Hi Leena-
This is just a regular bind off in pattern. That mean’s you’ll knit 1, then purl one, then pull the knit stitch over the purl stitch and drop it off of the tip of the right needle. Then knit one and pull the previous (purl) stitch over the newest (knit) stitch and off of the tip of the right needle.
I found this video on youtube that might help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxasDIE7cXc
Thanks for your question and please let us know is you need any more help!
Molly
These are all very beautiful. I hope I can knit them all to enjoy.
I have a question on how to do the thumb hole, how do I go from circular to flat knitting? I have just recently started knitting so I have only every really just done the bind-off for the thumb hole, just like for a button hole. This looks much much better! Are there any videos available for this? Thank you so much.
Hello Mariana,
In order to transition from knitting in the round to knitting flat, you will need to turn the work so that the needle with the ball of yarn attached to it is in your left hand and your empty needle starts in your right hand. Instead of continuing to knit in a spiral in the round, you will now be knitting back and forth from right to left and then left to right. I don’t believe there will be any videos on this, but if you like to make the thumb hole like a button hole, that’s a fantastic idea!
Happy Knitting!
Alyson
It sounds like it can’t possibly work, but all you have to do is turn the knitting and knit in the opposite direction (just like you would for flat knitting). You don’t really have to DO anything. Then, when it is time to rejoin in the round, it looks very similar to the very first round you joined at Row 1 of the work. It can’t really be explained, but makes so much sense if you just do it. Like many things- knitting is a learning by doing sort of hobby. I hope it worked out!
Hi there!
I am a fairly new knitter – when it comes to the thumb hole, do I need to wrap and turn the work as in the short rows for the Bandana Cowl or is there a turn but no wrapping?
Thanks!
Amy
Hello Amy!
The idea very similar, smart thinking! Since you are purposely trying to create a hole, you won’t need to use wrap and turns in order to keep everything in one piece. Simply turn the work and start working in the other direction right away. Don’t hesitate to ask any follow up questions you may have! Happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi. I am wondering about the amount of yarn used for a pair of these. Could there be enough left for another pair just with a different colour pattern?
Hello Chandra!
There would absolutely be enough yarn for one more pair—possibly even two more if you space out the colors right! Since each skein has 400 yards, you’ll definitely have plenty left over of each color.
Happy knitting! -Alyson
So if I only wanted to make one pair in one color, not color blocked, would 1 skein suffice?
Yes, you should have plenty! Good thinking Rebecca!
Happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi, I am a new knitter and have never used dpns before. I was just wondering how many needles you start with in the beginning of the pattern, three or four?
Hi CatMorbid,
Thanks for writing in! To start off with, your stitches will worked over three needles using the fourth needle. A tutorial on how to use dpns can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/07/25/double-pointed-needles/
I hope that that helps!
Best,
Cassy
I’m thinking of the new colors! What would you recommend with the kiln red, the rose granite and possibly the grey fig? Tough not seeing them in person! Possibly the ginger orange or peony? Is there any way to see a photo of the combinations?
Hi Gayle,
Thanks for writing in! I actually agree with you on the peony pink. It’s a peachy pink that would go well with the rose granite and kiln red. However, I would suggest substituting tabby grey for grey fig. It’s just my personal opinion. If you’d like, you can always call the store during store hours to have an associate send a picture of any combo you want sent to your email. Let us know!
-Adam
Hello! I am wondering if you have a suggestion for the length of the DPNs. I’ve seen anywhere from 5″ to 10″. Thanks!
Hi Sara,
Thanks for writing in a great question! For these hand warmers, I would recommend using 6 inch DPNs. You could use 8 inch DPNs but I would not go much longer as they tend to become cumbersome!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Can you recommend color combinations of either the line weight or the tosh merino light for blues or greens? I see that most of the line weight is paired down and tosh merino is out of stock. Thanks!
Hi Emily,
We don’t have much Tosh Light unfortunately, so I’ll just recommend some Line Weight colors. I suggest Trout Brown, Steel Blue, Fieldstone Gray and Wheat Flour for the blue version and Terra Green (sale color), Moody Green (sale color), Tabby Gray and Wheat Flour for the green version. Hope you like it!
-Adam
Hi! Would it be possible to use circulars for this pattern instead of DPN’s? I don’t have DPN’s this size but I do have circulars and would love to cast on tonight without having to wait for a trip to the store. Thanks.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for writing in! You certainly can use circular needles here. To do so, you will most probably need to use a technique called magic loop, where in you use a needle that is far longer than would work for the given circumference to knit a smaller item.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hello
I got Tosh merino to make the hand warmers and realized it should be Tosh Merino Light …I already started ?? I will be in the store on Saturday this week can I change it ? Thanks
Hi Karen,
Oh no, that is too bad! Unfortunately, yarn that has been wound or used cannot be returned, but we would be happy to take a look in the shop to see if we can help you find another pattern that will work with the yarn! There are quite a few worsted weight hand warmer patterns available, or it could be quite cute to use the worsted weight for a matching hat. I’m sure our staff will be able to help you find a solution tomorrow!
Best,
Julianna
Just a heads up – the links to your line weight merino are broken in this pattern.
The pattern is really lovely!
Hi Angie,
Thanks so much for letting us know – this links should all be working now!
Best,
Julianna
Hiya, just wondering the yardage used? Thanks!!
Hi Dee,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we no longer have information on how much yardage is used for each color, but both hand warmers together took 400 yards total. Hopefully that helps you figure out how much yarn you will need!
Best,
Julianna
hello,
could you explain how to pick stitches around the thumb hole?
many thanks
Valerie
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for writing in! You can check out our picking up stitches tutorial here for a visual of how this can be done. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella